Alex’s Calvin and Hobbes Party: A Journey Through The Woods

Let me tell you a bit about my eldest daughter’s best friend, “Joonie”. Sometimes she’s 3 years old, other times 5. Sometimes she’s about the same height as a typical 4 year old, sometimes she’s as tall as a spoon. Joonie likes candy, chocolates, and riding the train, but her mom is quite the nag and asks her come home early from play time everyday.

Joonie is my daughter’s longest best friend. She happens to be 100% imaginary, too. She is, I guess, what most people would call an “imaginary friend”.

My first reaction upon discovering Joonie was one of mild amusement. Upon further research though, this initial reaction became one of studious fascination. Apparently, children who have imaginary friends are found to be more articulate, creative, and with higher self-esteem. Imagine that!

Alex’s Calvin and Hobbes Party:

A journey through the woods with 2 of the world’s most beloved comic characters

HOBBES: THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR IMAGINARY FRIEND

So, you can all imagine my excitement when I was asked by my client, Cat, to create a Calvin and Hobbes party. This little comic strip is so delightfully funny, ironic, irreverent, and downright touching that it has endeared itself to so many, kids and adults alike. Take, for example, this strip:

Here, Calvin slips into the transmogrifier and becomes a smallish tiger. It’s so cute but weird that for the first time, Hobbes is at a loss for words. Calvin’s response is delightful too! Remember, because Hobbes is imaginary, all of this happens in Calvin’s head!

When readers think about Calvin and Hobbes, what do they feel? For me, I view Calvin and Hobbes thru a sort of “sepia lens” – it’s as if I was back in time, a little kid again, sitting on my couch, laughing along with Calvin’s antics, and cheering him along when he encounters a difficulty. And through it all, through thick and thin, Hobbes is there:

My favorite strip, bar none.

No Calvin and Hobbes party is complete without the famous Transmogrifier.

The field of grass and woods where Calvin and Hobbes play is filled with various toys and trinkets, such as the stuffed toy horse in the photo above, and the football in the photo below.

A stuffed toy Hobbes sitting in front of the Transmogrifier

If the stage emphasized the companionship between Calvin and Hobbes, the photo area is a place where I get to bring out more of Calvin’s antics and playfulness:

Calvin entreating people to part with their 1 dollar for a “swift kick in the butt”

A graphical representation of how Calvin feels about his dad’s “performance”. This was inspired by the strip below. Too funny!

Sweet Alex’s milestones, which we hung on a wooden divider

In line with the “wood-sy”, forest theme, I decided to give the dessert area a slightly autumnal feel:

THE BEST BIRTHDAYS ARE THE ONES MOST HEARTFELT

In the end though, I believe that it does not matter how beautiful (or expensive) your party is if you (as parents) fail to grasp the true purpose of it: to celebrate this new life and bundle of joy you created, and share this happiness with those closest to you.

And I can say this with utmost certainty: Alex is possibly the luckiest kid in town, with two of his loving parents at his side. Judge for yourself:

Welcome To My World!

I'm Michelle, mother of the 2 sweetest girls in the world, Sofia and Chloe. I'm an event stylist and owner of the boutique styling shop, Party Magic. I love doing crafts, design, cooking, and anything that has anything to do with beauty and art.